Cleaning device



Man}! 26, 1940- N. A. GLASKOWSKY 2,195,364

CLEANING DEVICE Original Filed Oct. 19, 1937 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 26, 1940 PATENT OFFICE CLEANING DEVICE Nicholas A. Glaskowsky, Westfield, Mass, assignor to Stanley Home Products, Inc., Westfield, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Original application October 19, 1937, Serial No.

Divided and this application December 2, 1938, Serial No. 243,599

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in surface-treating devices and is directed more particularly to the provision of devices for cleaning surfaces of such articles as upholstery, rugs and the like.

This application is a division of an application Ser. No. 169,841 filed by me on October 19, 1937.

It is one of the principal objects of the invention to provide a surface-treating device which is not only simple in form so as to be economical to manufacture but which is especially adapted to pick up foreign objects from relatively yieldable and irregular surfaces such as are found on upholstered chairs, davenports and the like.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device which is adapted to clean surfaces by means of an electro-static action. I have found that my device operates easily and efliciently to pick up dust and the like when rubbed over the surfaces of fabric and the like.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent after a reading of the following description which is taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a device embodying the features of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail the invention will be fully described.

It will be clear that the shape and size of the device may be varied as desired but it preferably includes in any event what may be called a handle part 2 and a body or working part 4. The handle part 2 may be made of various materials but it is desirable that the material of which it is made be relatively rigid and inexpensive, such as wood or the like. The handle 2 and working part 4 may be a single unit or they may be made as separate parts and glued or otherwise suitably joined together.

The working part I is adapted to be moved across the surface being treated to pick up foreign material therefrom. This part 4 has a plurality of outwardly-extending parts which may be in the form of separated projections or elongated ribs spaced apart to form spaces therebetween and provide a considerable area of surfaces on the projections or ribs.

I have found that if these projections or ribs are treated with some material which tends to set up an electro-static reaction when rubbed on a surface, the foreign objects such as dust,

lint, etc., are readily drawn up into the spaces between the projections and onto the surfaces thereof. Particularly is this so when the treated ribs or projections are moved across the surface of some yieldable fabric such as upholstery, rugs. 6 etc., which, of course, have more or less fuzzy or irregular surfaces.

Accordingly, I provide a block 6 of some relatively rigid material such as wood, fibrous material, vulcanized fibre, pressed paper or the like it) which has a plurality of spaced ribs or projections, such as 8. The size and shape of these projections or ribs may vary and they may be arranged in various ways for purposes of ornamentation and/or utility. In the form shown 15 the ribs are V-shaped or tapering.

The projections or ribs are treated with some material having thecapacity when subjected to a frictional action to become electro-statically charged to attract dirt, dust, lint and those things of which it is desired to rid fabrics, carpets, etc.

The material applied to the ribs or projections may be called an attracting layer and may consist of plastics in a fluid or semi-fluid state containing cellulose derivatives, amber, ambroid, camphor, rubber, or resins with or without a vehicle or solvent, all used singly or in various combinations. The material may be applied by brushing, spraying, dipping or the like or immersion for a definite period of time, with or without application of vacuum or pressure.

In any event it is intended that there be penetration or impregnation such as is indicated by ID in the drawing. Where a solvent is used the material may be made of the desired consistency to bring about the desired impregnation.

With the projections 8 about equally spaced, the device is easy and efficient in operation. After considerable foreign material has been electro-statically picked up, the device may be readily cleaned by wiping a cloth or the like over the working part.

It will be appreciated that the surface-treating device of'this invention is capable of withstanding more and harsher use than a brush having bristles, for example. Further, it may be more easily made than can a brush and at a smaller manufacturing cost.

While I have described the invention in great detail, and with respect to the present preferred form thereof, it is not desired to be limited thereto since many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A device for cleaning upholstered surfaces and the like and manipulatable by the hand comprising in combination, a handle member to facilitate gripping of the device, a body part attached to said handle member, and a plurality of spaced ribs integral with. said body part and extending outwardly therefrom in the same direction as, and in parallelism with, one another, said ribs being substantially impregnated with a material which creates an electrostatic charge when the device is drawn across a surface being treated with the ribs in contact therewith.

2. A device for cleaning upholstered surfaces and the like and manipulatable by the hand comprising in combination, a handle member to facilitate gripping of the device, a body part attached to said handle member, and a plurality of spaced ribs integral with said body part and extending outwardly therefrom in the same direction as, and in parallelism with, one another, said body part and ribs being formed of Wood and said ribs being substantially impregnated with a material which creates an electrostatic charge when the ribs are drawn across a surface being treated.

3. A device for cleaning upholstered surfaces and the like and manipulatable by the hand comprising in combination, a handle member to facilitate gripping of the device, a body part attached to said handle member, and a plurality of spaced ribs integral with said body part and extending outwardly therefrom in the same direction as, and in parallelism with, one another, said body part and ribs being formed of wood and said ribs being substantially impregnated with a cellulose derivative.

NICHOLAS A. GLASKOWSKY. 

